Mode indicator for slider element

ABSTRACT

A position or mode indicator for a slider mechanism and particularly a slider forming a part of a push button switch. A button type housing encloses a sheet of flexible material which is secured in a biased manner between a stationary holder and a clear lens. Two free end portions of the flexible sheet are guided between opposing surfaces of a lens and a guide member. The before mentioned housing is movable and when secured to a slider element of a push button assembly and moved toward the stationary holder, effects a movement of the open ends of the flexible sheet toward each other to indicate a movement of the button body.

United States Patent [191 Hadfield et al.

[451 Nov. 11, 1975 MODE INDICATOR FOR SLIDER ELEMENT [73] Assignee: Globe-Union Inc., Milwaukee. Wis.

[221' Filed: May 13, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 469,227

[52] US. Cl 116/124 L; ll6/D1G. 28; 200/314 Primary E.\'aminerRichard E. Aegerter Assistant LIraminer-Steven L. Stephan Attorney, Agent. or Firnz-.lames L. Kirschnik; .lohn Phillip Ryan [57] ABSTRACT A position or mode indicator for a slider mechanism and particularly a slider forming a part of a push button switch. A button type housing encloses a sheet of flexible material which is secured in a biased manner between a stationary holder and a clear lens. Two free end portions of the flexible sheet are guided between opposing surfaces of a lens and a guide member. The before mentioned housing is movable and when se cured to a slider element of a push button assembly and moved toward the stationary holder. effects a movement of the open ends of the flexible sheet toward each other to indicate a movement of the button body.

14 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet20f3 3,918,391

US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet3 013 3,918,391

1 MODE INDICATOR FOR SLIDER ELEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to mode or position indicating means for a slider element. More particularly, it relates to a mode indicator for a push button switch wherein the free ends of a flexible sheet of material are biased and guided in a button housing so as to move toward or away from each other as a means of indicating movement of a push button switch.

In the manufacture of push button switches, it is desirable to have the position or mode of the switch indicated. This gives an immediate determination of the circuitry controlled by the switches. Many such mode indicators, such as described in US. Pat. No. 3,691,985, employ a light which is designed to illuminate a portion of the switch. Such lighted rnode indicators are expensive to manufacture as they require special internal fabrication in the switch body, do not provide a fail-safe feature when the bulb burns out and re quire a changing of the bulb. Recently, as described in US. Pat. No. 3,715,548 attempts have been made to eliminate lighted mode indicators for push button switches and to utilize a mode indicator which could be externally attached to a finished switch. However, such devices require the fabrication and movment of numerous parts. Consequently, they are subject to malfunction, do not have a long operative life and are costly. Other units, as illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,237,591, do not effect an absolute on-off condition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mode or position indicator for a slider element which is easily and economically fabricated. It is another object of the present invention to provide a mode indicator for a push button switch which is easily attached to a finalized switch unit. It is still another object of this invention to provide a mode indicator for a push button switch which can be easily mounted to a pre-existing switch in either a parallel or transverse manner. It is yet another object of this invention to afford a push button switch mode indicator which will permit a wide variety of colors or legends to placed in or on the mode indicating means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the present mode indicator wherein a movable housing element is adapted to be friction fitted on the slider element of a push button switch. A holder member for securing a sheet of flexible material is adapted to be supported from the push button switch body and to be housed in the movable body element. A lens is carried by the movable body element and biasing means are employed in conjunction with said holder member to secure the flexible material between the holder and the lens. A guide member acts with the lens to guide the flexible sheet in an overlapping manner between the lens and the guide member when the movable body element is moved in the direction of the holder member for the flexible sheet. In a preferred embodiment, a rippled lens is employed so as to disguide the line of overlap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the present mode indicator for push button switches will be afforded by reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plane view illustrating three of the mode indicating buttons of this invention in operative engagement with and in different positions on three modular switch elements.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the mode indicator illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an adapter for mounting a mode indicator button transversely with respect to the push button switch housing.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in horizontal section illustrating one of the mode indicator buttons mounted parallel to the switch housing and illustrating the various components mounted inside the body of the mode indicating button.

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section taken along line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except taken along line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view illustrating the basic component parts of the mode indicating button of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a view in vertical section of the flexible mode indicating means removed from its holding and guiding elements to illustrate one position of the mode indicating means.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the flexible mode indicating means in a second position.

FIG. 10 is a view in partial section illustrating the push push mechanism of the push button switch shown in FIGS. 19 and 12-14.

FIG. 11 is a partial view of the cam operating mechanism which is utilized in the push-push mechanism shown in FIG. 10-.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view in horizontal section similar to FIG. 4.

FIG. 14 is an end view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT Proceeding to a detailed description of the present invention, the mode indicating buttons are indicated generally by the numeral 10 and are attached to the usual slider element 11 mounted in push button switch body 12. Slider element 1 1 and pushbutton switch body or stator block 12 with slider element 11 compose the usual push button switch generally 13. As the mode indicator of this invention is operable with any type of push-push type switching mechanism, only a brief description of the push button switch is necessary. Switch 13 has as previously stated, the usual stator block 12 with fixed contact terminals 15. Movable contacts, (not shown), will internally engaged fixed contact terminals 15 in the stator block 12.

The basic components of the indicator button is best shown in FIG. 7. A holder member 19 is positioned inside housing 18 and has two leg portions 20 and 21 for contact with the facing 14 of the switch body 12. Extending oppositely from the leg portions are two projections 23 and 24 which extend through openings 25 and 26 in flexible mode indicating means 30. This enbuttons gagement will seat end portion 31 of indicating means 30 against wall 32 of holder 19 and between side walls 34 and 35. Two coil springs 38 and 39 which serve as biasing means will be seated over projections 23 and 24 and will be received in suitable indentations 40 and 41 in spring holder member 43. This is best seen in FIG.

Two lateral flanges such as shown at 44 on spring holder 43 engage internal lateral grooves in housing element 18 such as shown at 45. A U-shaped projection 47 extends centrally from holder 43 through the rectangular opening 48 in flexible mode indicating means 30 and is slideably guided in rectangular opening 49 of holder 19. A curved lens member 52 if frictionally held in housing element 18 by means of flange 53 which engages lateral grooves 16 and 17 in housing 18. At the same time, the inside surfaces 33 and 34 of lens 52 rest against abutment surface such as 55 to provide a tight fitment.

Referring to FIG. 4 it will be seen that button housing 18 is formed with a base portion 22 from which extend inwardly two oppositely disposed walls 50 and 51. Barbed flanges 27 and 28 project from walls 50 and 51 to frictionally engage annular groove 29 on slider 11. The usual retaining clip 42 holds slider spring 71 on slider 11 and against facing 14 on the stator block by means of spring clip 70.

As is best seen in FIGS. and 6 with the previously described component parts in an assembled condition in housing 18, the convex surface 57 of holder 43 with the smooth, complementary internal concave surface 58 of lens 52 will provide a guide channel 60 for overlapping the free end portions 83 and 84 of flexible mode indicating means 30.

As shown specifically in FIG. 8 and 9, flexible mode indicating means 30 is provided with a portion 54 which is dissimilar to the remaining portions of the flexible sheet material In a preferred manner, portion 54 is of a black color and the remaining portion 56 of flexible sheet mode indicating means is colored red. When the free ends 83 and 84 are overlapped to the extent shown in FIG. 9, only the red color would be viewed from behind the lens 52. This aspect will be better explained later in the Operation.

One means for effecting a push-push operation of slider element 11 is disclosed in FIGS. and 11. This particular mechanism is the subject matter of US. Pat. No. 3,229.5 48. As explained in that patent, slider element 11 incorporates a hollow cam notch 61 with a closed contour, either symmetrical or asymmetrical, having two points or peaks 62 and 63. The depth of cam notch 61 is variable to form several bevels and stops 64, 65 and 66 which causes a retaining finger or pin 67 to move along the guiding profile always in the direction of arrow 69. The retaining pin is formed by a simple pin which is elastically held against the bottom of the cam notch by a leaf spring 70. A brief description of the operation of the camming mechanism is as follows: When the slider element 11 is in a depressed position which effects a compression of spring 71, the end of the pin 67 is in the position 74 in the cam notch 61. This holds the slider bar in this position against the force of spring 71 by engaging in the notched part of the central bar 75 which is located opposite the point or peak 63 of the heart cam. In this position, the pin 67 is braced against the edges of a retaining opening, (not shown) in frame 76. When the slider element 11 is depressed, the end of pin 67 is prevented from returning backward by the bevel 63 and therefore moves in the direction of the arrow 69 toward the position 77. When the slider element 11 is released it will move backward under the influence of spring 71 which causes the end of pin 67 to follow the whole upper branch of cam notch 61 and lodge in the depression formed by the peak 62 and at position 78, which determines the second position of the slider element. When the slider element 11 is again depressed, the pin 67 will ride downwardly through the slope of bevel 64 to position 79 and ultimately to position 74 through bevels and stops 66 and 63.

It will be seen in the drawings and particularly FIG. 2 that stator block 12 is quite narrow in its longitudinal dimension. When mode indicator buttons 10 are positioned parallel with the longitudinal dimension of the stator block, leg portions 20 and 21 will engage the upper surface without any problem. However, should it be desirable to position the mode indicator buttons 10 transversely to this dimension, such as shown in the third position from the top in FIG. 2, some means of support for the legs must be provided. This is afforded by block member 80 which is shown in FIG. 3. It will rest upon the upper surface 14 of stator block 12 and receive the flanged end sections 81 and 82 of leg portions 20 and 21 in notches 85 and 86 in a frictional manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 12-14 a mode indicator 110 is disclosed which basically differs from mode indicator 10 in that spring holder member 43 is eliminated. Similar numbers will indicate similar parts in indicator 110 as em ployed with reference to indicator 10 except they are numbered in the series. In place of spring holder member 43, side guide members 190 and 191 are disposed integrally in housing 118 as well as a central guide section 194. It will be noted that side guide mem bers 190 and 191 have slots 192 and 193 respectively, and with a continuation of the slots in conjunction with enlargements 195 and 196 insertion of holder member 119 is accommodated with outlying spring holder blocks 136, 198 and spring holder projections 137, 199. It will be noted that unlike embodiment 10, mode indicator has channels 140 and 141 located in housing 118 for retaining springs 138 and 139. As best seen in FIG. 13, housing 118 is held captive to holder 119 by engagement of shoulders sections 172 and 173 with shoulder portions 146 and 159 on holder 119 for the flexible mode indicating means 130, when biased by springs 138 and 139. It should also be noted that the end portions of side guide members 190, 191 and central section 194 are rounded or curved as shown by number 197 to facilitate the movement and guidance of flexible mode indicating means therearound as will be later explained in the Operation.

OPERATION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT A better understanding of the advantages of the mode indicating button of this invention will be had by a description of its operation and assembly. Mode indicating button 10 will be assembled in the manner generally indicated in FIG. 7. Flexible mode indicator 30 will be placed on holder 19 by means of openings 25 and 26 orientated over projections 23 and 24, respectively. Springs 38 and 39 will then be set on projections 23 and 24 and seated in indentations 40 and 41 of spring holder member 43. Holder member 19 with spring holder member 43 is then placed in housing ele ment 18 with legs 20 and 21 of holder 19 projecting through openings 88 and 89 in the base 22 of housing 18. Spring holder member 43 is held in body 18 by means of flanges 44 engaging grooves such as 45. With the placement of spring holder member 43 in body 18 the open ends of flexible mode indicating means are overlapped around convex surface 57. Subsequently, lens 52 is snap fitted into body 18 and held therein by means of flanges 53 and grooves 16 and 17. When it is desired to employ the mode indicator 10, all that is required is to frictionally fit it onto the end of a slider element 11 by means of barbed flanges 27 and 28 engaging groove 29 in slider element 11. With this engagement, holder member 19 is constructed with legs 20 and 21 so that contact is made with facing 14.

With button engaging slider 11, and slide member 11 in the decompressed state, the flexible mode indicating means 30 will be in a position as indicated in FIG. 8. In this manner the black portion 54 will be viewed through lens 52 which will indicate a decompressed position. When it is desired to change the mode of the switch and to move slider 11 inwardly into stator block 12, body 18 is pressed across the lens 52 which will cause with the movement of slider 11, movement of the body 18 among legs and 21 with a consequent movement of spring holder member 43 toward stationary flexible mode indicator holder member 19. This movement will cause the free end portions 83 and 84 of the flexible mode indicating means to further overlap and be guided through the guide channel 60 as the lens 52 and spring holder member 43 move together toward flexible mode holding member 19. This movement will cause the free end portions 83 and 84 of the flexible mode indicating means to further overlap and be guided through the guide channel 60 as the lens 52 and spring holder member 43 move together toward flexible mode holding member 19. This movement is continued until pin 67 of the push-push mechanism will engage peak 63 of cam notch 61 and come to rest at position 74. The overlapping of the mode indicator means will then be shown in FIG. 9 with the free end portions overlapped to show a complete red color and indicate that the switch is now activated. When the slider bar and switch are decompressed, by a subsequent pushing and release action, housing 18 will move away from facing 14 and backwardly along legs 20 and 21. At the same time, movement of spring holder mem ber 43 and lens 52 away from flexible mode indicating means holder 19 will be effected to bring the flexible mode indicating means back to its original position as shown in FIG. 8.

If the mode indicating button is to be utilized in a transverse position with respect to a narrow bodied stator block, then stationary legs 20 and 2 1 will be positioned in block 80 with block 80 resting on the surface of facing 14. This arrangement gives support to the legs which otherwise would straddle the stator block 12 or facing 14.

OPERATION OF THE SECOND EMBODIMENT The operation and assembly of mode indicator 110 is basically similar to indicator 10. One difference is in the assembly of holder 119 in housing section 118. Flexible mode indicator 130 will be seated on holder 119 by Ultra-Sonic Sealing of projections 123 and 124 extending through openings 125 and 126. Holder 119 will then placed in housing 118 by sliding blocks 198 and 139 through slots 192 and 193 in guides 190 and 191. The free ends 183 and 184 of mode indicating means 130 will be wrapped around the curved ends 197 of guide members 190, 191 and central guide section 194. Lens 152 will then be snap fitted into body section 118. With holder blocks spaced a sufficient distance from the back of body 1 18, springs will be inserted into channels 140 and 141 which are disposed in and are in effect partial enlargements of slots 192 and 193 to provide support end walls 140a and 141a. The springs 138 and 139 will be compressed in the channels and fitted onto spring holder projections 137, 199. The operation of mode indicator is the same as for indicator 10 in that movement of body section 118 along stationary legs and 121 will effect a greater degree of overlap of the free ends 183 and 184 of flexible mode indicating means thereby positioning the black portion 154 out of view of lens 152. The inside concave surface 158 of lens 152 will form with the adjacent convex surface 197 of guides 190, 191 and central section 194, the movable guide path or channel 160.

In addition to having fewer parts by the elimination of spring holder member 43, mode indicator 110 also has the advantage of being operable with only one spring such as 139 with the elimination of spring 138. From a production standpoint, this is the preferred manner and is accomplished by means of using a spring with a strong force rate and controlling the spacing between wall surfaces 120a and 121a of legs 120 and 121 and adjacent walls 172a and 1730 of shoulder sections 172 and 173.

Mode indicating buttons 10 and 110 have been described for use with sliders 1 1 and 1 1 1 on a push button switch 13. Mode indicating buttons 10 and 110 could be used to advantage on any type of slider element with a temporary retention feature such as a retractable ball point pen or pencil.

The preferred material for fabricating flexible mode indicator means 30 and 130 is a sheet of plastic polyester film sold under the trade name Mylar by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. In place of the preferred material other flexible and semi-rigid plastic materials could be utilized such as polyethylene as well as metals such as thin sheet steels. All of the components of the mode indicating button are fabricated from resinous plastic with the exception of the springs 38, 138, 39 and 139. The preferred plastic material is acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. However, others such as platable thermoplastics as supplied under the trademark NORYL by General Electric Company, nylon, etc. could be utilized.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible mode indicating means 30 and 130 is illustrated with a darkened section 54 and 154 which is later overlapped by the red portions 56 and 156 of the mode indicating means. If desired, numerical designations or wording can be placed on the black and red portions of the flexible mode indicating means so that in one instance the wording on the black portion is visible and at another. the wording on the red portion when they are overlapped and visible through lens 52 and 152. Obviously, other Combinations other than black for portion 54 and 154 and red for the remaining sections 56 and 156 of the mode indicating means can be utilized. Further. the lens surface can have printing applied thereto which becomes highly visible when the flexible mode indicating means is placed in an overlapped position as shown in FIG. 9 and is composed of contrasting material. ln addition, printing or other indicia could be applied to the convex surface 57 of spring holder 43 for exposure through an orientated opening or openings in mode indicating means 30.

As shown at 68 and 168 lens 52 and 152 are rippled by means of parallel lines of thicker material disposed parallel to ends 83, 84 and 183, 184. This will substantially disguise the overlap line for portions 56 and 156.

It will thus be seen that through the present invention there is now provided a mode indicating means for a push-slider mechanism which employs a minimum number of parts and is actuated without requiring complex mechanical engagement of the parts. The mode indicating means of this invention eliminates the need for any illuminating source while at the same time providing a wide variety of indication indicia on flexible mode indicating means. The mode indicator button is quickly mounted on a push button switch and is adapted easily to be in a transverse or parallel position with respect to the stator block. The mode indicating means can be fabricated independent of the push button switch to which it is ultimately connected and can be done in an economical and rapid manner without requirement for close tolerances.

The foregoing invention can now be practiced by those skilled in the art. Such skilled persons will know that the invention is not necessarily restricted to the particular embodiment herein. The scope of the invention is to be defined by terms of the following claims as given meaning by the preceeding description.

We claim:

1. A mode indicating button for a slider element movably mounted in a body member lining a smooth concave surface comprising a housing element for attachment to and movement with said slider element, a lens member disposed in said housing element, a holder member positioned inside said housing element and supported from said body member in a stationary manner, flexible sheet mode indicating means secured to said holder member and extending adjacent the concave surface of said lens member, biasing means for securing said flexible sheet mode indicating means between said holder member and said lens member, means defining a guide path for a portion of said flexible sheet mode indicating means adjacent the concave surface of said lens member whereby movement of said housing element toward and away from said holder member effects movement of said slider element and of said flexible sheet mode indicating means inside said guidepath, said means defining a guide path comprising a spring holding member which is spring biased from said mode indicating means holder member, said spring holding member presenting a smooth convex surface and said lens smooth concave surface being complementary thereto with a portion of said flexible sheet disposed therebetween.

2. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible mode indicating means is a sheet of flexible material with at least one open end portion extending around the inside of said lens.

3. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 1 wherein said body member comprises an electrical switch body for a push button switch.

4. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 3 wherein said mode indicating means holder member has leg portions extending through accommodating openings in a base portion of said housing and contacting said electrical switch body.

5. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 3 further including an adapter constructed and arranged to engage the holder member outside said housing element and to be supported from said switch body.

6. A mode indicating button for a slider element movably mounted in a body member comprising a housing element for attachment to and movement with said slider element, a lens member disposed in said housing element with a surface on the inside of the housing element, a holder member positioned inside said housing element and supported from said body member in a stationary manner, flexible mode indicating means secured to said holder member and extending adjacent the inside surface of said lens member, biasing means for securing said flexible mode indicating means between said holder member and said lens member, means defining a guide path for a portion of said flexible mode indicating means adjacent the inside surface of said lens member whereby movement of said housing element toward and away from said holder member effects movement of said slider element and of said flexible mode indicating means inside said guide path, said flexible mode indicating means comprising a sheet of flexible material with at least one open end portion extending around the inside of said lens, said means defining a guide path comprising at least one convex, rounded, smooth surface disposed in said housing element adjacent said lens, said lens presenting a smooth complementary concave surface with a portion of said flexible sheet disposed therebetween, and said holder member for said flexible mode indicating means also defining in part a holder for at least one spring member of the biasing means with said housing element defining an opposing holder for said spring member.

7. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 6 wherein said convex, rounded, smooth surface is defined by two guide members disposed laterally in said housing element and a central section also disposed in said housing element.

8. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 7 wherein said guide members have slots for receiving said spring holder on said holder member.

9. A mode indicating button for a slider element movably mounted in a body member comprising a housing element for attachment to and movement with said slider element, a lens member disposed in said housing element, having one surface on the interior of said housing element a holder member positioned inside said housing element and supported from said body member in a stationary manner, flexible mode indicating means secured to said holder member and extending adjacent the interior surface of said lens member, biasing means for securing said flexible mode indicating means between said holder member and said lens member, means defining a guide path for a portion of said flexible mode indicating means adjacent the interior surface of said lens member whereby movement of said housing element toward and away from said holder member effects movment of said slider element and of said flexible mode indicating means inside said guide path, said flexible mode indicating means comprising a flexible sheet with two open end portions and said guide path is defined by concave and convex surfaces with said end portions disposed therebetween in an overlapping manner in one position of said slider element.

10. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 9 wherein said flexible sheet is composed of a single sheet of material.

11. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 10 wherein said flexible sheet is secured in said holder member between the open ends.

12. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 11 wherein said flexible sheet is composed of a flexible plastic material.

13. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 9 wherein said lens is constructed with a rippled effect with the ripples aligned in a parallel manner with said ends of said flexible sheet,

14. A mode indicating device for a push button switch having a body and a slider element protruding therefrom and movable between a first position extended outwardly from said body and a second position at which the slider is depressed into said body, the indicating device comprising a hollow housing attached to the exposed end of the slider, the housing having a lens member disposed in one end, said lens member having an inner surface inside said housing holder means extending generally parallel to the slider and having a portion slidably disposed within the housing, spring means for biasing the holder toward the switch body relative to the housing. flexible indicator means coupled to the holder means within the housing and extending adjacent the inner surface of the lens member, the indicator means having at least two contrasting mode indicating surfaces, whereby when the slider and housing are in the first position a first mode indicating surface is viewable through the lens and when the slider and housing are in the second position, a second mode indicating surface is viewable through the lens, said indicator means comprising a flexible sheet having two open end portions disposed in a overlapping manner adjacent the inner surface of said lens, said inner surface defining a guide path for a portion of the flexible sheet indicator means.

l l =l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3 918 ,391

DATED November ll, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Raymond George Hadfield & Kenneth Lee Roy It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 45, after to" insert be-.

Column 2, line 60, "engaged" should read engage.

Column 3, line 14, "if" should read is.

Column 3, line 35, "FIG." should read FIGS.-.

Column 5, line 19, "slide" should read -slider-.

Column 6, line 3, after "then" insert -be.

Column 7, line 19, "illuminating" should read -illumination-.

Column 7, lines 37-40 should read as follows movably mounted in a body member comprising a housing element for attachment to and movement with said slider element,

a lens member having a smooth concave surface disposed in said housing element, a holder.

Column 8, line 64, "movment" should read -movement Signed and Scaled this tenth Day of February 1976 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH C. M A SON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting ()jjrcer Commissioner ofParenrs and Trademarks 

1. A mode indicating button for a slider element movably mounted in a body member lining a smooth concave surface comprising a housing element for attachment to and movement with said slider element, a lens member disposed in said housing element, a holder member positioned inside said housing element and supported from said body member in a stationary manner, flexible sheet mode indicating means secured to said holder member and extending adjacent the concave surface of said lens member, biasing means for securing said flexible sheet mode indicating means between said holder member and said lens member, means defining a guide path for a portion of said flexible sheet mode indicating means adjacent the concave surface of said lens member whereby movement of said housing element toward and away from said holder member effects movement of said slider element and of said flexible sheet mode indicating means inside said guidepath, said means defining a guide path comprising a spring holding member which is spring Biased from said mode indicating means holder member, said spring holding member presenting a smooth convex surface and said lens smooth concave surface being complementary thereto with a portion of said flexible sheet disposed therebetween.
 2. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible mode indicating means is a sheet of flexible material with at least one open end portion extending around the inside of said lens.
 3. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 1 wherein said body member comprises an electrical switch body for a push button switch.
 4. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 3 wherein said mode indicating means holder member has leg portions extending through accommodating openings in a base portion of said housing and contacting said electrical switch body.
 5. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 3 further including an adapter constructed and arranged to engage the holder member outside said housing element and to be supported from said switch body.
 6. A mode indicating button for a slider element movably mounted in a body member comprising a housing element for attachment to and movement with said slider element, a lens member disposed in said housing element with a surface on the inside of the housing element, a holder member positioned inside said housing element and supported from said body member in a stationary manner, flexible mode indicating means secured to said holder member and extending adjacent the inside surface of said lens member, biasing means for securing said flexible mode indicating means between said holder member and said lens member, means defining a guide path for a portion of said flexible mode indicating means adjacent the inside surface of said lens member whereby movement of said housing element toward and away from said holder member effects movement of said slider element and of said flexible mode indicating means inside said guide path, said flexible mode indicating means comprising a sheet of flexible material with at least one open end portion extending around the inside of said lens, said means defining a guide path comprising at least one convex, rounded, smooth surface disposed in said housing element adjacent said lens, said lens presenting a smooth complementary concave surface with a portion of said flexible sheet disposed therebetween, and said holder member for said flexible mode indicating means also defining in part a holder for at least one spring member of the biasing means with said housing element defining an opposing holder for said spring member.
 7. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 6 wherein said convex, rounded, smooth surface is defined by two guide members disposed laterally in said housing element and a central section also disposed in said housing element.
 8. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 7 wherein said guide members have slots for receiving said spring holder on said holder member.
 9. A mode indicating button for a slider element movably mounted in a body member comprising a housing element for attachment to and movement with said slider element, a lens member disposed in said housing element, having one surface on the interior of said housing element a holder member positioned inside said housing element and supported from said body member in a stationary manner, flexible mode indicating means secured to said holder member and extending adjacent the interior surface of said lens member, biasing means for securing said flexible mode indicating means between said holder member and said lens member, means defining a guide path for a portion of said flexible mode indicating means adjacent the interior surface of said lens member whereby movement of said housing element toward and away from said holder member effects movment of said slider element and of said flexible mode indicating means inside said guide path, said flexible mode indicating means comprising a flexible sheet with two open end portions and said guide path is defined by concave and convex surfaces with said end portions disposed therebetween in an overlapping manner in one position of said slider element.
 10. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 9 wherein said flexible sheet is composed of a single sheet of material.
 11. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 10 wherein said flexible sheet is secured in said holder member between the open ends.
 12. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 11 wherein said flexible sheet is composed of a flexible plastic material.
 13. The mode indicating button as defined in claim 9 wherein said lens is constructed with a rippled effect with the ripples aligned in a parallel manner with said ends of said flexible sheet.
 14. A mode indicating device for a push button switch having a body and a slider element protruding therefrom and movable between a first position extended outwardly from said body and a second position at which the slider is depressed into said body, the indicating device comprising a hollow housing attached to the exposed end of the slider, the housing having a lens member disposed in one end, said lens member having an inner surface inside said housing holder means extending generally parallel to the slider and having a portion slidably disposed within the housing, spring means for biasing the holder toward the switch body relative to the housing, flexible indicator means coupled to the holder means within the housing and extending adjacent the inner surface of the lens member, the indicator means having at least two contrasting mode indicating surfaces, whereby when the slider and housing are in the first position a first mode indicating surface is viewable through the lens and when the slider and housing are in the second position, a second mode indicating surface is viewable through the lens, said indicator means comprising a flexible sheet having two open end portions disposed in a overlapping manner adjacent the inner surface of said lens, said inner surface defining a guide path for a portion of the flexible sheet indicator means. 